Thomas Saenz, Navy Pilot, Earns Degree In Combat Zone

Finals week was dangerous for Thomas Saenz.

The Navy lieutenant needed armed guards and an armored car to get to an exam site, in Kabul, Afghanistan. A deadly bomb attack also caused him to miss classes – transmitted live via the Internet – but he persevered and earned a master's degree in engineering from the University of Southern California while commanding a top security team.

His class graduated on Friday, as he joins a growing number of service members earning college degrees while deployed in a war zone.

"Not only was he out there living on the edge, but he had to get his homework done," USC professor Frank Alvidrez said.